DETAILS

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Crate and an x-pen, and possibly some baby/door gates

Purchase an appropriately sized crate for your puppy, along with an x-pen and, if needed, a few baby gates to create puppy-safe areas in your home. Your puppy's crate should be just large enough for them to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably, but no larger. Many crates include adjustable dividers, allowing the space to grow with your puppy.

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We've found that used crates and baby gates are often easy to find, while x-pens are less common secondhand and may be worth purchasing new. Their versatility makes them an excellent investment.

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Unless your puppy has significant confinement-related fears or trauma, starting crate training early is recommended. If your puppy initially struggles with the crate, an x-pen can provide a less confining alternative while you work on building positive crate associations. X-pens also serve many other purposes throughout puppyhood, including creating safe play areas and preventing access to parts of the house when you can't actively supervise.

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Baby gates are another useful management tool. They make it easy to block off rooms, keep your puppy out from underfoot when guests or service providers are visiting, and prevent access to the kitchen during meal preparation so they don't learn to scavenge for dropped food.

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Leash and drag lines

To get started, purchase a regular 6-foot leash for walks, along with two lightweight leashes that you can convert into a 6-foot and a 15-foot drag line by cutting off the handles.

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Lightweight drag lines designed specifically for puppies can be surprisingly difficult to find. If you're handy, it's inexpensive and easy to make your own using paracord and clips from a hardware store. If you'd rather purchase one, see the Additional Recommendations section for lightweight leash options and DIY instructions.

 

Treat pouch

There’s many to choose from, but we like pouches with different attachment options (belt clip, shoulder strap, waist cinch), a drawstring to prevent treats from dropping out, a poop bag dispenser, zipper pockets for valuables, and a side clip.

 

Dog bed

There are too many variables, sizes, and preference styles when it comes to recommending a specific dog bed. However, we can suggest two features you will want to look for: a raised edge, as it more clearly delineates the rest area for your dog, and machine washable!

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Harness

We strongly recommend using a harness for your puppy during walks and outings, especially in the early months. Puppies are naturally distracted, excited, and sometimes a little chaotic when they explore the world — and that is completely normal! A properly fitted harness allows your puppy to move, sniff, and learn without putting repeated pressure on their neck while they are still developing good walking habits.

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A flat-buckle collar is fine for quick trips outside, such as a potty break in the yard. However, we do not recommend using a collar for walks if your puppy is pulling toward something they want to reach. Repeated pulling against a collar can create unnecessary pressure on the neck while your puppy is still learning how to navigate the world on leash.

 

Our goal is to eventually transition to a regular flat-buckle collar as we teach leash walking skills. At that point, your puppy can learn how to respond appropriately to leash pressure as part of the training process, rather than simply becoming accustomed to pulling against collar pressure.

 

For your puppy’s first harness, we recommend choosing a simple, well-fitting harness with both a front clip and a back clip. We do not recommend purchasing a used harness unless you are confident it fits properly and is in good condition, since poor fit can affect comfort and movement. A basic harness is often all you need during the early puppy months.

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Nail clippers, dremel, and styptic powder

Consider purchasing nail clippers with a safety guard rather than the guillotine style, as they allow you to better shape the cut around the quick. A dremel can also be helpful for smoothing and refining the nails after trimming. It's also a good idea to keep styptic powder on hand in case you accidentally trim the nail too short. Corn starch will also work in a pinch.

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Even if you plan to have a professional groomer trim your puppy's nails, it's important to own these tools so you can gradually condition your puppy to be comfortable seeing, hearing, and handling them. This early preparation can make future grooming visits much less stressful for both your puppy and the groomer. We'll cover how to introduce these tools and other grooming experiences in much more detail in the Socialization chapter.

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Additional resource (blog): “Cutting Your Dog’s Nails: How Important Is It Really?”

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Toys

Toys are much more than entertainment—they're valuable tools for helping your puppy learn, develop confidence, and meet their natural needs in appropriate ways. Different toys serve different purposes, including teething, chewing, training, mental enrichment, problem-solving, exercise, and strengthening your relationship through interactive play.

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Every puppy develops individual preferences. Some love tug games, others become obsessed with chasing toys or squeaky plush toys, while many are happiest working to earn food from an enrichment toy. As your puppy grows, you'll discover the activities and toys they enjoy most.

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During the first few weeks at home, however, we recommend keeping things simple and focusing primarily on food toys and enrichment activities. These toys not only help satisfy your puppy's need to chew and explore, but also encourage relaxation, independence, and calm behavior as they adjust to their new home.

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As you build your puppy's toy collection over time, choose toys that are appropriately sized, durable, and safe. Avoid toys that can easily be swallowed, torn apart, or ingested, and be cautious with inexpensive toys that may contain unsafe materials or poor-quality construction.

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Food Enrichment/Toys

Food toys are some of the most valuable tools you'll use during the first few months with your puppy. They encourage appropriate chewing, provide mental stimulation, teach problem-solving skills, and help puppies learn to relax independently. They can also redirect biting onto appropriate objects and keep puppies happily occupied during quiet time.

 

Many food toys can be stuffed with your puppy's meals or favorite treats and frozen to make the activity last longer. If your puppy is very young or becomes frustrated easily, start with softer fillings or partially frozen recipes before progressing to more challenging options.

 

Every puppy has different preferences, so don't hesitate to experiment. Some puppies enjoy licking, others prefer chewing, while some love searching for hidden food. Below are a few food toys we regularly recommend for new puppy owners.

 

The Chewy selections links provides our favorite options for each of these essential food toys:

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• Stuffed Toppl – Our favorite all-around food toy because it's easy to fill, easy to clean, and works well with kibble, canned food, and frozen recipes. You can even secure it to the inside of a crate to help build positive crate associations. (See our recipe ideas.)

• Stainless Steel Lick Mat – A durable option for puppies that tend to chew or destroy silicone lick mats.

• Crate-Mounted Lick Mat (optional) – Helpful for creating positive crate associations and encouraging calm behavior during crate time.

• Snuffle Mat – Encourages natural foraging behavior and provides excellent mental enrichment with kibble or small treats.

• Treat Dispenser – Encourages movement and problem-solving as your puppy works to earn food.

• Bully Stick with a Safety Holder – A long-lasting chewing option that helps satisfy chewing needs while reducing the risk of swallowing the last small piece.

• Outward Hound Slow Feeder Bowl – A helpful option for puppies who eat their meals too quickly. The raised ridges slow down eating by encouraging your puppy to work around the bowl to access their food. This is a simple way to add enrichment to regular kibble meals while helping prevent gulping.

• SodaPup Honeycomb Enrichment Bowl – This versatile food toy can be used with kibble, wet food, or frozen recipes to create a longer-lasting enrichment activity. The textured design encourages licking and focused engagement, making it a great option for calming activities, meals, or downtime.

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